text:
Credit union app store with solutions for 11 different provider functions
OnApproach wants another characteristic of credit unions to be as synonymous to those financing providers as their reputation and servicing to members: collaborative analytics.
And to help credit unions leverage the possibility of collaborate analytics, OnApproach recently established a pathway for institutions to access new tools that’s familiar to anyone with a smartphone: an app store.
OnApproach, which says it’s the credit union servicing organization (CUSO ) dedicated to credit union success through a collaborative analytics ecosystem, launched the Credit Union App Store (CU App Store). The CU App Store is the online marketplace for credit unions to discover and immediately access applications designed to solve a variety of business problems and improve data and analytical capabilities for all credit unions.
OnApproach explained the CU App Store was developed because it is too often that credit unions must “re-invent the wheel” by building reports and dashboards that are similar across their peer groups. OnApproach insisted this process creates incredible inefficiencies throughout the industry.
As a CUSO, OnApproach wants to help transform the industry and ensure a healthy future for all credit unions.
For managers and other executives still unsure about exactly what collaborative analytics, OnApproach explained the concept in this video that’s also available at the top of this page.
The CU App Store brings together credit unions, CUSOs and industry vendors to share the time and resource burden required to execute high value reporting and analytics, regardless of technology or core. By utilizing the CU App Store, credit unions have the opportunity to shift their time from report creation to consumption and analysis of useful information.
“The launch of the CU App Store marks a major milestone in OnApproach’s vision for the credit union movement. Data analytics is imperative for the industry, but it has unfortunately proven to be a serious challenge for the majority of the credit unions to gain competency in even the first and most basic steps on the analytics journey,” OnApproach chief executive officer Paul Ablack said.
“The CU App Store finally makes it fast and easy for credit unions to search and find pre-built solutions for analytical needs,” Ablack continued. “The agnostic marketplace for sharing analytics applications is a big win for the industry, the individual credit unions and ultimately the communities they serve.”
Within the CU App Store, credit unions can access the site and shop for pre-built applications that refers to reports, dashboards or models that cover a range of credit union needs, including categories such as:
The applications currently available are free to credit unions and compatible with the OnApproach CU Analytics Ecosystem.
In addition, credit unions can share with or sell to their peers the applications they have built. The site also features applications developed by fintech companies and solutions providers.
To learn more, visit the CU App Store at http://cuappstore.com.


text:
Glaxo sues to protect money-spinner
A TRIAL that could determine whether GlaxoSmithKline will face generic competition to its best-selling antidepressant Paxil began in Chicago on Wednesday, with the drugs company arguing its patents were being infringed.
Paxil is GSK's highest-selling product and accounts for about 9% of its total revenue. Paxil sales last year in the US were £1.9bn , but if it were to face cheaper generic competition those could fall to just a few hundred million pounds, in the same way Eli Lilly's revenue from Prozac was slashed.
GSK is suing the Canadian company Apotex. It accuses the firm of infringing patents of Paxil, particularly the original patent which expires in 2006, with its proposed version of the drug.
So far arguments have centred on technical issues such as the chemical composition of the drug and production processes. GSK spokeswoman Mary Anne Rhyne said the company expects the trial to take less than a month.
Many generic drug companies wait for an Appeal Court decision before launching a copycat version of a branded drug, even if they win a lower court ruling. Apotex has not stated its intentions in the Paxil case.
The company said it was the first to submit a marketing application for a generic version of Paxil, which would entitle it to 180 days of generic marketing exclusivity in the US. Apotex has a tentative approval for its copycat drug, pending resolution of the legal issues. 'Whatever we need to do to get this product to market and in the hands of consumers, we are prepared to do,' said a spokeswoman.
Most watched Money videos
- Jaguar Land Rover providing vehicles to emergency services
- RAC gives you tips on looking after your car in lockdown
- New Italian Fiat Panda introduced in 1981
- Vauxhall Astra car comes to UK market in 1981
- Austin Metro TV ad from the 1980s introduced the new British car
- Shares that could benefit from a stock market recovery
- Classic 1987 Ford Sierra RS Cosworth is heading to auction
- Jaguar car showrooms prepare to reopen after coronavirus lockdown
- Brabus launches the Invicto - capable of withstanding explosions
- Kent farm advertises crop picking position for under 1,000 people
- Jaguar Land Rover introduce safety measures to reopen factory
- NHS test and trace give you warning signs to look out for

domain: news


text:
Having an FM radio built right into your phone seems like a really good idea, but for some reason the feature seems to be relegated to "value" phones like the Moto G in the US. In fact, the OEM chipsets for a lot of devices (including many of Qualcomm's super-popular Snapdragon SoCs) include FM capability, but the manufacturer disables it for whatever reason. According to a quoted report on RadioWorld.com, that's going to change for Android phones on AT&T in 2016. Read More
AT&T approved the Android 5.1 update for the first-gen Moto X (XT1058) on July 7th, but yesterday the carrier decided to halt the update. AT&T is calling this a "temporary" suspension, but isn't saying what exactly the issue is.
Asus has seen some success with the budget-oriented unlocked Zenfone 2, and now a less expensive variant of the device is coming to AT&T as a prepaid GoPhone. The Zenfone 2E keeps many of the design cues from the Zenfone 2, but pulls back on the spec sheet a bit. Read More
HTC One M9 owners on AT&T, your update is now ready. The Android 5.1 update is going out to customers starting today. Well, yesterday, at least according to the support page text, though we haven't actually heard from any AT&T customers who have actually spotted the OTA yet. In addition to the software goodies in Lollipop 5.1, this build includes "Device Protection." Remember, it may be a week or more before the staggered rollout gets to everyone.
Can't wait that long to get software version 2.6.502.16? HTC has provided its ROM Update Utility (RUU) for the upgrade, weighing in at a rough 2.25 gigabytes. Read More
The bigger brother of Samsung's super-premium tablet offerings has already been blessed with Lollipop on AT&T, so now it's the smaller version's turn. Galaxy Tab S 8.4 owners on Ma Bell should be getting an Android 5.0 over-the-air update starting today, at least according to AT&T's support page. Technically it's Android 5.0.2, but who's counting?
Effective June 16, 2015, AT&T has released a software update for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 (SM-T707) . This update will be made available to customers via the Firmware Over the Air (FOTA). A Wi-Fi connection is required.
- Android 5.0.2 Operating System update which includes Lollipop 5.0 and the additional enhancements.
Some of you abuse your phones. You know who you are. You're the folks who are willing to fundamentally change the look, feel, and size of your phone by cramming it into an OtterBox case. A number of you have what few would dispute as a legitimate reason (you work in construction, work as a crash test dummy's stunt double—that sort of thing), while others just feel clumsy enough that their phones can't possibly survive the number of times they will fall against carpet and concrete. Either way, you're the type of person who may want to pick up a Galaxy S6 Active, which is now available from AT&T. Read More
Well, this looks familiar. AT&T has finally acknowledged that the Galaxy S6 Active is a thing, and it's going to be selling it very soon. The GS6 Active does indeed look like the previously leaked images with the camo pattern on the back and physical buttons on the bottom. It looks like a bit of a cross between a Galaxy S5 and S6.


text:
Red Wine And Weather May Be factor In Headaches For Women
(KPLR) – Ladies maybe you like having that glass of red wine after a hard day, but two new studies are suggesting that red wine and weather can play a part in women suffering from headaches and migraines. Scientists discovered wines with higher levels of tannins, which give the red wine its color, were more likely to trigger these excruciating headaches.
The other study had sixty-six migraine patients keep headache diaries for a year. They found temperature change was linked to mild headaches twenty-one percent of the time and severe headaches five percent.


text:
Pandora Media Inc. (NYSE: P) might feel lucky after its earnings report. It is sometimes the case that internal workings and poor fundamentals of a company get overlooked because of outside developments. The financial picture for Pandora is that the online music streaming company has struggled to get past a money-losing business model for years now. The outside news that may have saved the day is that Pandora has a board change, has an outside investment commitment from KKR and may be a target of a buyout.
What all of this added up to is a mixed reaction, and it is often better to judge a big piece of news by the continued reaction in the following days rather than by the initial reaction to the news. After all, short sellers often create whip-around trading moves as they rush to cover shorts or as they pile on more short sale orders in the aftermath of news. Some analysts are just not convinced a buyout is really coming for Pandora.
After reporting a miss of first-quarter revenue estimates, Pandora lowered its second-quarter revenue expectations and trimmed its annual guidance for 2017. This probably sounded familiar to many of Pandora’s long-term investors. What kept the wheels from falling off the cart here was that Pandora also announced that it is exploring strategic options that could include a sale of the company, but it also has secured a $150 million investment from private equity firm KKR & Co. L.P. (NYSE: KKR).
Pandora also has announced major changes to its board of directors, which would be aimed at appeasing Keith Meister of Corvex Management and his activist campaign against the internet music company. KKR partner Richard Sarnoff is joining Pandora’s board of directors.
Corvex may have been one issue and a sale potential is of course another, but KKR’s market cap was last seen north of $15 billion. That means this $150 million investment is barely a 1% incremental effort versus the entire value of Pandora, while Pandora still has a full market value of almost $2.5 billion.
Pandora broke out its first-quarter metrics on growth of revenue, subscriptions and ticketing. Total consolidated revenue was up 6% to $316.0 million, with advertising revenue up 1% to $223.3 million. Total subscribers increased from 3.93 million a year ago to 4.71 million, and subscription and other revenue was up 19% to $64.9 million. Ticketing service revenue was $27.8 million, a 25% year-over-year increase.
Where metrics remain stale for Pandora are in earnings. The company said that its net loss was $132.3 million on a GAAP basis, versus a net loss of $115.1 million in the same quarter last year. Its adjusted EBITDA was a loss of $71.3 million, compared to a loss of $57.4 million in the same quarter last year.
Then there are the internal listener metrics, both of which declined. Total listener hours were 5.21 billion for the first quarter of 2017, compared to 5.52 billion for the same period of the prior year. Active listeners were 76.7 million at the end of the first quarter of 2017, compared to 79.4 million for the same period of the prior year.
Pandora ended the first quarter with $203.0 million in cash and investments, down from $243.3 million at the end of the prior quarter. Cash used in operating activities was $36.0 million for the first quarter of 2017, versus $13.1 million in the same period of the prior year.


text:
CMS - news of the Caucasian Mineral Waters / the Most up to date information! News of Pyatigorsk, Kislovodsk news, news of Yessentuki, Mineral Waters news, news of Zheleznovodsk, Lermontov news, news Georgievsk, Stavropol news
RSS feeds in the directory: 374
Added today: 0
Added yesterday: 0
Sony without the noise and ads have made an important step towards the production of game consoles next generation. The company has launched official pages PlayStation 5 in different regions of the world, including Russia.
the Concept of PS5
Initially, the phenomenon drew the attention of the users of social news site Reddit. Localized pages are launched for multiple regions including the UK, Germany and Russia.
On the page there is a teaser with the logo of the PS5, with the message "PlayStation 5 is coming soon" and the promise of release to Christmas season sales. Users are invited to register to receive news about the console by email. Sony promises registered among the first to report about the release date, the price of PS5 and the list of games that will be released simultaneously with the PS5.
According to the latest leaks, the PlayStation 5 finally declassified at a special event, which will take place on 5 or 15 Feb or March 4. And March 5 is expected to start taking pre-orders. Presumably, in North America, the console will be on store shelves November 20 at a price of $ 499.
Tags: PlayStation , Sony
"Rays Huang" to everyone. Cheap 04.02.2020 at 18:05
Quantum acquires one of the business Western Digital 04.02.2020 at 17:45
A new telescope has made an unprecedented photograph of the Sun 30.01.2020 at 09:42
PlayStation 5 striking list of exclusives 30.01.2020 at 08:20
Rival Mi Band 4 produced Realme can get what device Xiaomi can not boast 30.01.2020 at 08:08
After a week Google closes another service that worked years 30.01.2020 at 07:39
Microsoft profited from the death of Windows 7 30.01.2020 at 07:18


text:
Super Bowl advertisers play it safe
NEW YORK (AP) — The pressure was on. The tension was thick. And then, there were yawns in between.
The Super Bowl might have been a nail-biter, but the ads were a snooze.
Actor Clint Eastwood waxed for two minutes about Detroit and Chrysler. An M&M candy stripped “naked” at a party. And stars from the ’90s were everywhere, as were dogs and babies, of course.
Companies paid an average of $3.5 million for a 30-second spot for the right to duke it out yesterday in front of the expected 111 million-plus fans. But it was all so ordinary with fewer surprises.
That’s mostly because nearly half of the 70 Super Bowl advertisers put their spots out online in the days leading up to the game. That’s a big difference from last year, when only a few spots were released ahead of time. And the companies that did wait until game day for the “big reveal” didn’t take many risks. In fact, most settled on cliché plots with kids, celebs, sex and humor. “Advertisers this year are playing it very safe,” said Tim Calkins, a professor of marketing at Northwestern University.
Here’s a look at the game’s ads, play by play:
SEX SELLS — OR AT LEAST ADVERTISERS HOPE IT DOES
Advertisers showed a little skin in their Super Bowl.
An ad for domain name-hosting site GoDaddy shows racecar driver Danica Patrick and fitness expert Jillian Michaels body-painting a nude woman. A spot for clothing retailer H&M features soccer star David Beckham in black-and-white in his undies. And online florist Teleflora and automaker Kia both use Victoria’s Secret’s model Adriana Lima in their Super Bowl ads.
But perhaps the two most blatant examples of “letting it all hang out” came from car companies.
Toyota’s spot for its “reinvented” Camry features a “reinvented” couch made up of women wearing bikinis. “It also comes in male,” a voiceover in the ad says while showing a couch of shirtless men.
And among the few standouts for the night was a Fiat ad that equates seeing the car for the first time with making out with a sexy Italian supermodel. The tagline: “You’ll never forget the first time you see one.”
BABIES AND DOGS, OH MY
Who doesn’t love cute animals and babies? Advertisers are banking there aren’t many among us.
That’s why Doritos used both. One Doritos spot shows a man being bribed by a dog with the chips to keep the animal’s dirty secret about a cat’s disappearance. In another spot, a grandmother uses a slingshot to hoist a baby up to grab a bag of Doritos that belongs to a boy in a tree who had been taunting the baby with the chips.
Those two ads were crowd favorites, said Peter Dabol, who analyzes advertising effectiveness at research firm Ace Metrix. The firm polled 500 viewers about the ads.
“It’s a typical Super Bowl: Funny carries the day,” he said. “Advertisers are driving for attention and likeability.”
Likewise, Skechers shoe company introduced its new running sneaker with an ad showing a French bulldog winning a greyhound race by wearing the shoes. The dog then moon-walks across the finish line.
And software company 2nd Story Software’s ad uses toilet bowl humor, literally. The ad to promote its free TaxAct software shows a boy who looks everywhere to find a respectable place to relieve himself. He winds up going in a pool.
The tagline: “Totally free. Feels good.”
THE STARS WERE OUT
Celebrities always draw attention. And advertisers took a gamble that using stars would be enough to grab attention.
Chrysler, one of nine automakers advertising during the game, aired a Super Bowl ad starring Clint Eastwood. The aging actor talks about the rebirth of Chrysler and Detroit. The two-minute “Imported from Detroit” ad, one of the few spots that weren’t released before the game, follows the company’s ad last year that starred rapper Eminem.
Chrysler’s ad was among the few standouts yesterday. “Those very few ads that weren’t overexposed up front ended up with a real advantage,” said Raymond Taylor, a professor of marketing at the Villanova School of Business in Villanova, Pa.
Meanwhile, real-estate company Century 21’s ad shows that a real estate agent is able to outdo speed skater Apolo Ohno on the ice, business mogul Donald Trump in business and former football player Deion Sanders at an open house.
And in an ad for Pepsi, “The X Factor” winner Melanie Amaro belts out “Respect” for music icon Elton John, who plays a king in the spot. “Pepsi for all,” she says.
REMEMBER THAT? NOSTALGIA FACTOR
Some advertisers attempted to tug at viewers’ heart strings by stirring up old, fond memories.
Honda’s ad for its compact sports-utility vehicle CR-V shows actor Matthew Broderick living a grown-up version of his 1986 hit movie, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
An Acura NSX ad features 1990s comedic titan Jerry Seinfeld battling with late-night talk show host Jay Leno over the sportscar.
And during Downy’s pregame ad, the company remakes one of the most classic commercials of all time, Coke’s 1980 spot “Mean Joe Greene.” In the original, a little boy gives gruff football player Joe Greene a Coke as he comes off the field. The Downy remake stars Greene and actress Amy Sedaris — in the little boy role — giving Greene a can of Downy fabric softener.


text:
SYDNEY—Plans by Australian state governments to save money by keeping people out of jails, hospitals and foster care are creating an opportunity for yield-hungry investors.
The states are increasingly turning to a new type of debt—dubbed social-impact bonds—which are tied to programs aimed at saving billions of dollars in dealing with issues caused by criminality, family breakups and other major social problems.
- The Motley Fool:
New members save 55% on Stock Advisor
Wayfair Cyber Monday Coupon: 30% Off
- American Eagle Outfitters:
Sign up for emails and get 10% off American Eagle promo code
Kohl's coupon - 30% off sitewide for Rewards members
Walmart coupon: $20 off your $50+ order
Get up to $625 unlimited commission-free online trades


text:
One of the biggest innovations in the last year is the development and launch with the Blockchain Reports Network. As you may know, this kind of service was developed by the same company that has developed the other groundbreaking technology we know today. Just like you may also https://bitcointradererfahrungen.de/ know, the corporation is called opinion. ConsenSys was created in 2020 by a category of individuals who had been all former executives in the banking and finance companies. This company was founded on the promise of developing a new economic climate based upon the distributed ledger system that may be utilized by the biggest companies in the world. Their goal is to create a completely new means for all businesses and corporations to transact their economic transactions.
The idea of digital cash is not something new. For centuries it has been utilized throughout the world and particularly in the bank industry as a method of exchange and as a record keeping machine. In recent years nonetheless it has received a whole lot of focus from your mainstream multimedia and many key businesses due to new technology that is certainly created with this company. The biggest technical breakthrough of the past day was the progress the Blockchain. This new technology allows consumers and company owners to be able to work their economical transactions in a really secure and fast manner.
The biggest difficulty that many individuals have with this kind of revolutionary bit of technology is certainly how hard it’ll be to use the technology designed for everyday orders. This is where the Blockchain Media Network comes in play. This really is a Newswire service that is being produced by the business ConsenSys. The Newswire is made to help customers and company owners to stay up-to-date with the hottest developments with this technology. You can easily subscribe to this kind of Newswire so that you are advised when newsworthy events take place in the world of distributed ledgers. You will probably be informed the moment there is something fresh or something that will have an impact on this new technology that is being used. This new technology is being produced to help buyers and business owners in every the main world to get into and utilize this new economical technology.


text:
KENOSHA – Anyone driving Interstate 94 past the big Amazon and Uline distribution centers can see that warehousing has become a key element in Kenosha County’s economy.
What isn’t so obvious is this: The growth in warehousing jobs here isn’t just dramatic locally; it stands out on a national scale. And it is reshaping the Kenosha economy.
“Every time I go up the highway there … I’m just absolutely amazed,” said Steve DeHaan, president and CEO of the Des Plaines, Illinois-based International Warehouse Logistics Association.
In 2014, with the Amazon distribution center planned but not yet open and packaging materials distributor Uline still growing, Kenosha County had 943 jobs in the industry sector formally called “warehousing and storage.”
The total for 2017, the most recent year for which data is available: 6,442.
During those three years, Kenosha County accounted for four of every five new warehousing jobs across the entire state.
And among 625 U.S. counties for which the federal government publishes warehousing employment numbers, only seven outstripped Kenosha’s growth, a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel analysis of data from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages shows.
The census, published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, covers nearly all jobs in the country and, unlike most employment data sets, is an actual count rather than a survey. It includes part-time and seasonal workers, but information from the warehousing companies themselves suggests that the vast majority of their Kenosha County employees are full time.
The job gains in warehousing far exceeded those in any other industry group in the county. They accounted for 50 percent of its total employment growth over the 2014-’17 period, and now are approaching the total for the entire manufacturing sector.
Viewed from a longer perspective, the transformation is even more striking.
In 1999, Kenosha County had just 96 jobs in warehousing and storage, and 12,257 in manufacturing. By 2017, the number of warehousing-sector jobs had increased more than 50-fold. Manufacturing employment, meanwhile, had shrunk by 40 percent – nearly double the statewide decline of 22 percent.
That doesn’t include another million square feet for which site preparation has begun, or other projects in the proposal stage, Battle said by email.
With the warehousing surge, Kenosha County led the state by a wide margin in the rate of total private-sector job growth.
The 23 percent gain from 2014 to 2017 was more than twice that of any other county, and six times the statewide increase. Even in raw numbers, Kenosha’s increase bested almost every county, including Milwaukee with its far larger employment base.
Warehousing provides employment for people without extensive education or skills. Nationally, pay for rank-and-file workers averages $18 an hour.
That’s a couple dollars better than jobs in call centers or retail stores, for example, but about $4 an hour below manufacturing or trucking.
Average hourly pay for warehousing isn’t available by county. But Amazon, which has 2,500 full-time jobs in Kenosha, only recently raised its minimum wage to $15 an hour. Over the last three years, average hourly pay figures posted on Indeed.com range from $11.50 for stocking associates and $11.51 for material handlers to $13.77 for warehouse workers.
Uline appears to pay significantly more. Its minimum is $17.50, while average rates posted on Indeed.com for material handlers ($17.50) and warehouse workers ($20.48) are higher than Amazon, too.
“They (Uline) will tell you it’s much harder to get a job with them than with Amazon,” said Thomas Groleau, a management professor at Carthage College. “They’re actually proud of that. They pay you better and they say we have better working conditions, we have room for advancement, and it’s harder to get a job out here.”
In an announcement last July, Amazon said average hourly pay for its full-time Wisconsin employees, including cash, stock and incentive bonuses, was more than $14.50.
Groleau said that while warehousing doesn’t pay as well as manufacturing, the growing demand for warehouse workers in Kenosha County has put pressure on lower-wage sectors such as fast food to raise pay.
With the rise of digital commerce, warehousing employment has soared nationwide. The sector added 277,000 jobs from 2014 to 2017 – fifth highest among 91 industry groups.
DeHaan, of the International Warehouse Logistics Association, said the group’s members “are expanding as fast as they can” and, for the most part, are near the edges of major metropolitan areas.
Such locations – like Kenosha with its proximity to Chicago – offer relatively low land and development costs while still allowing goods to be shipped easily to the big cities where customers are concentrated, DeHaan said.
“There’s this thing called ‘the tyranny of now,’” Marquette University supply-chain expert Doug Fisher said. “Global distribution used to take 70 days; the chairman of Alibaba wants that 10 days or less.
“Amazon’s goal is not two days, it’s one to two hours, and if you’re going to provide that level of service you have to be in the proximity (to the major markets). You just have no choice.”
Companies involved in logistics also tend to cluster geographically, said Fisher, a management professor and director of Marquette’s Center for Supply Chain Management.
He said that appears to be happening in far southeastern Wisconsin and likely played a role in the decision by Foxconn Technology Group to locate there.
“I know for a fact, having worked with the Foxconn folks, that logistics was critical and will be increasingly important,” Fisher said. “They’re going to need increasing intermodal and rail services, they’re going to need air services. … They’ve got a reason to be there beyond just the $4 billion (in public subsidies).”
Given the evolving nature of the economy and the dynamics unleashed by the warehousing cluster already in place, Fisher expects to see continued growth in the sector in Kenosha County.
“I think the only problem we’re going to have, and it’s a good one, is feeding them with an employee base,” he said.
Given the increasing strength of internet-based commerce, Kenosha County probably can count on the warehousing jobs for a while, Groleau said.
“So there is at least a foundation that the economy here won’t collapse,” he said, “but it’s not a very lucrative foundation.”


text:
Remote Okapa in Eastern Highlands has been rated as having the best coffee in Papua New Guinea.
Okapa’s Kanite Kirapim Association won the top accolade at the inaugural PNG Coffee Growers’
|Winner Jonah Anagoh of Okapa’s Kanite Kirapim Association.|
Cupping Competition awards night in Port Moresby on Friday after a hectic week of tasting 69 coffee samples from all over the country by an expert panel of five international and one local taster.
|Tasters Rose Romalus from CIC, Juliana Nobre and KC Reynolds from Australia, and Adi Taroepratzeka and Ulden Banu from Indonesia with winner Jonah Anagoh of Okapa’s Kanite Kirapim Association.|
|Juliana Nobre and KC Reynolds from Australia, and Adi Taroepratzeka from Indonesia are showered with gifts from PNG coffee farmers. Nobre and Reynolds are wearing traditional rain capes from the remote Menyamya area of Morobe.|
The tasters, who had to taste over 700 cups last week, were Marichi Clarke, Juliana Nobre and KC Reynolds from Australia, Adi Taroepratzeka and Ulden Banu from Indonesia, and Rose Romalus from PNG’s Coffee Industry Corporation.
|Winner Jonah Anagoh of Okapa’s Kanite Kirapim Association with the other four top prize winners and tasters on Friday night.|
Hundreds of people including coffee growers, family members, and supporters of the industry packed the Gateway Hotel for the awards night.
Jonah Anagoh, who picked up the award for Okapa, said winning would certainly place this remote part of Eastern Highlands on the world map.
“We have come all the way from Okapa with our extension officers,” he said.
“It is a great honor to win this first-ever type of award for the coffee industry in PNG.
“I’m so happy for us people of Okapa to be recognised like this.
“We Okapa people are ‘bush’ people who work very hard in looking after our coffee.
“We are so proud that our coffee has been recognised as being the best in the country.
“I urge all coffee farmers in Okapa to continue working hard and to maintain the quality that we are renowned for.”
Reynolds, on behalf of the tasters, said they had discovered some “very beautiful coffees” during the week.
“We had a big task all week of tasting all 69 coffees and getting acquainted with the best of PNG coffee” she said.
“In total, we brewed and tasted 730 cups of coffee.
“As cuppers, our main focus is cup quality.”
Reynolds advised quality could be improved by not picking under-ripe cherry, drying properly, and proper fermentation.
However, she said they had discovered some “very great flavors”, which showed the quality of PNG coffee.
|Tasters Rose Romalus from CIC, Juliana Nobre and KC Reynolds from Australia, and Adi Taroepratzeka and Ulden Banu from Indonesia.|
“We found flavors of blueberry, wine, dark chocolate, cherry, milk, candy, melon, honey, lime, caramel, apple, grape, apricot, hazel nut, guava, hibiscus, mango, jelly, turmeric, and many, many more flavors,” Reynolds.
“This week, we not only had the chance to cup the coffee of PNG, we also had the chance to meet the people behind the coffee.”


text:
- Perks in the workplace sometimes subtly discourage you from leaving the office on time.
- That’s why Portland design firm Work & Co decided against including fun distractions, like Ping-Pong tables.
- Employees tend to value traditional benefits like 401-Ks and paid-time-off policies anyway.
Snazzy workplace perks aren’t always innocuous.
Sure, free or subsidized meals, beer on tap in the company kitchen, and arcade games tucked in the corners of the office sound fantastic. And they seem to be a staple at fancy tech offices, who are known to boast pastry chefs and karaoke machines. Such office elements have stoked the imaginations of office designers around the country, and we’ve seen some of these fun office benefits seep into other industries.
But there’s a growing backlash to eye-catching workplace perks. Critics hold that these kinds of enticing benefits mostly serve to keep employees in the office, to the detriment of their work-life balance. And a number of locales in California have accused free company cafeterias of harming local eateries, Business Insider reported.
Architecture critic Rowan Moore wrote in the Guardian that companies – especially big tech outfits – are increasingly creating spaces “wherein staff offer their lives, body and soul, day and night, in return for gyms, Olympic-sized swimming pools, climbing walls, basketball courts, running tracks and hiking trails, indoor football pitches, massage rooms and hanging gardens, performance venues, amiable art and lovable graphics.”
Digital design and technology agency Work & Co decided to go in a completely different direction with its office in Portland, Oregon, according to Fast Company. The designers at Casework strived to eliminate most trappings of a traditionally trendy office, eschewing Ping-Pong tables and game consoles.
"Our hope is that everyone leaves every day and gets home to their families and friends and doing the things they love to do outside of work because that motivates everyone to be better designers and developers," Work & Co partner Casey Sheehan told Fast Company.
The idea of a more stripped-down, back-to-basics office seems especially promising, especially given the fact that people don't tend to put much importance on flashier perks. Business Insider previously reported that employees tend to prefer that companies focus on basic benefits like 401K plans, healthcare, and paid-time-off policies.


text:
How Will Personal Privacy be Regulated in the Metaverse?
From VR headsets to entire virtual worlds where consumers can interact with each another via the internet, the metaverse stands to usher in a new era of innovation and technological advancement in the upcoming years. Nevertheless, the same problems that mankind is currently facing, in reality, will still be present in the metaverse. To this point, many privacy and consumer protection advocates are beginning to question the manner in which personal privacy will be regulated within the metaverse, as there have been many troubling developments thus far.
To illustrate this point further, an academic paper that was published by two different groups of researchers at both UC Berkeley and the Technical University of Munich in Germany respectively detailed several experiments within an “escape room” that was created within the confines of a VR game, with the aim of uncovering the potential risks that online users playing the game might experience when engaging in activities with other users. What’s more, these studies also sought to understand what level of privacy protection would be needed to mitigate these negative effects.
A study on VR usage
As stated in an article published by the British technology news website The Register concerning the matter this past July, “Through a 30-person study of VR usage, the researchers – Vivek Nair (UCB), Gonzalo Munilla Garrido (TUM), and Dawn Song (UCB) – created a framework for assessing and analyzing potential privacy threats. They identified more than 25 examples of private data attributes available to potential attackers, some of which would be difficult or impossible to obtain from traditional mobile or web applications.”
Most obviously, due to the inherent nature of VR headsets and glasses, any person that uses such hardware will invariably be disclosing their biometric information, as well as information regarding their behavioral patterns. Nonetheless, the experiment that was conducted also found that an adversarial program that was present within the virtual environment had “accurately inferred over 25 personal data attributes, from anthropometrics like height and wingspan to demographics like age and gender, within just a few minutes of gameplay.” In this way, concerns regarding personal privacy protection within the metaverse are very much rooted in reality.
Tech companies and privacy
In addition to this, many of the current leaders in the virtual video game industry, as well as the metaverse, have already gained a reputation for failing to protect the personal information and privacy of the millions of consumers around the world that are currently using their numerous products and services on a daily basis. For example, current Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is currently leading the charge as it relates to the metaverse, as he recently debuted an avatar of himself within the digital online space this past week.
Described as “the first time the Facebook founder has held a public conference in Meta’s Horizon World metaverse” by Business Insider, Zuckerberg has publicly boasted about the benefits of interacting with online users within this new digital landscape. However, Facebook’s own history regarding data privacy does not inspire optimism as it pertains to the protection of the personal information that consumers disclose when engaging with each other in the metaverse, irrespective of how their avatars look while doing so. Even without taking into account the infamous Cambridge Analytica political scandal that was first exposed in 2018, Meta has been accused of violating the personal privacy of its users several times during this year alone.
Data protection violations
For instance, the social media company agreed to pay a $37.5 million settlement after it was alleged that the company had used the geolocation data of California residents to track their whereabouts without their consent. In conjunction with the provisions of the California Privacy Rights Act (CCPA), these actions constituted a serious violation of the law. However, due to the overwhelming lack of privacy legislation within the U.S., the true extent to which companies such as Meta effectively steal the personal information of their own users remains to be seen. On top of this, many of the hardware companies that currently produce VR headsets, including South Korean electronics company Samsung, among others, also have a less than stellar record of safeguarding the personal data of their customers.
Despite the fact that any experiment that is conducted regarding any particular topic or issue is not necessarily indicative of how events will play out in the future, the fact that many of the companies that are looking to expand their business into the metaverse have consistently been accused of data privacy violations casts doubt that anything will change within a new digital environment. For these reasons, consumers that are interested in VR headsets and other products that will enable them to experience virtual reality will have to take into consideration the ways in which these practices could infringe upon their personal privacy.


text:
Dispensary or food truck? Why Blüm is the only pot shop that will take your credit card
Blüm marijuana dispensary certainly doesn't look like a food truck.
There are no chicken wings or tacos in sight, just displays of bagged gum drops, jarred marijuana leaves and oils and balms.
If you use your credit card at the Midtown dispensary, though, your statement will show that you just made a purchase at the "Midgrun Eats LLC food truck."
Why? Canna-business experts say it's a back door tactic to skirt federal banking regulations and make more money.
"It's not even back door, it's more like an upper window," said Jeremy Skaff, vice president of sales at Journey Business Solutions, a Colorado-based merchant services company. He consults marijuana-related businesses nationwide on how to handle finances.
The "food truck" front might be the key to the business's rare ability to take credit cards.
Although Blüm representatives declined to comment, calls to all six Blüm marijuana dispensaries in Nevada and California confirmed that the entire fleet of dispensaries takes credit cards, an anomaly in the traditionally cash-only marijuana industry.
While ATMs and debit cards have become commonplace at dispensaries because they can process under a third party system, taking credit cards is more nuanced. It could be an unusual, risky strategy to increase profits.
More:Sisolak signs marijuana transparency bill, posts pot retailers' names and records online
'No one carries cash anymore'
Visits and calls to all other dispensaries in Washoe County indicated that no other dispensaries in the county take credit cards.
"I’m not a statistician, so I don't know that customers will spend more if they have a credit card, but a business that takes credit cards, it’s more convenient for customers," Skaff said. "The more options that you give people to pay, the more business you’re going to get. No one carries cash anymore."
Will Adler, a cannabis advocate and principa Silver State Government Relations, is certain that other dispensaries have tried the tactic, but it appears that Blüm is the only one in Washoe County that has succeeded in using the tactic continuously.
"People love using credit cards, you get points! It’s a competitive edge. The convenience of being the only guy that takes credit cards, that's a big advantage," said Adler.
Business experts say the dispensary, owned by California-based cannabis titan Terra Tech, could face banking fines, if not federal inquiry.
The state's new U.S. Attorney, Nicholas Trutanich, told reporters in June that, "Marijuana remains illegal under federal law, and my job is to enforce federal law."
When asked last week whether the office was looking into Blüm dispensary, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Nevada could neither "confirm or deny an investigation," said Trisha Young, spokeswoman for the office.
'A terrible situation'
Marijuana remains illegal at a federal level, classified the same as heroin, so banks — which are federally regulated and insured — typically refuse to deal directly with marijuana-related businesses. Because credit cards are backed by banks, that also precludes marijuana businesses from taking credit cards.
Candace Carlyon, a top banking attorney in Las Vegas, said marijuana-related businesses' inability to bank has created a "terrible situation."
"When you have a business, you need to bank," Carlyon said.
Marijuana entrepreneurs who have been in the industry long enough have had at least one personal bank account shut down, she said, which often causes them to disguise their money in one way or another.
But, she also said there's a fine line between doing what you have to do to secure your money and doing something that could jeopardize your business. Misrepresenting the nature of the business to a merchant services vendor could fall into the latter category.
Story continues below images
"There is certainly a concern when you’re dealing with proceeds from what is a federal felony. The sale is a federal felony, and you’re disguising the source of the funds. When you’re disguising the source of the funds, that’s a separate felony," she said.
While it's not uncommon for discretion to be used in businesses of sexual nature, for instance, those businesses are not federally illegal.
"Someone might go to a strip club, but it might show up (on a transaction) as a flower shop. But those are both legal businesses," Carlyon said.
Whether fronting a pot shop as a food truck during a credit card transaction is illegal, she's not entirely sure, but it's definitely going to raise eyebrows, she said.
"The problem with that is that it lays them open for money laundering," she said.
One form of money laundering under the Money Laundering Control Act is knowing that a transaction has been represented to "conceal or disguise the nature, the location, the source, the ownership, or the control of the proceeds of specified unlawful activity."
The good news, however, is that customers themselves are at little risk if they have purchased at a dispensary that takes credit cards.
Additionally, under the state's Department of Taxation regulations for the industry, there are no detailed restrictions preventing dispensaries from accepting credit cards.
More:Reno marijuana dispensary at center of fraud scheme, lawsuit says
Doing things 'under the table'
Blüm isn't the first dispensary to try a credit card-friendly model.
Skaff said he's seen it before in Colorado, but as a consultant he never recommended it.
Since Colorado legalized recreational marijuana sales back in 2014, Skaff's company has been finding financial solutions for cannabis companies, both banking solutions and payment services solutions.
"When you're high risk, you can't find just one good solution and be done. You have to find multiple because those solutions won't last forever," Skaff said.
Although the U.S. Department of Treasury recently reported the number of banking institutions working with marijuana-related businesses is on the rise, Skaff's job is to find banks or credit unions that will take their money.
The number of financial institutions actively banking marijuana-related businesses in the United States reached 633 institutions at the end of the first quarter of the year, versus a little more than 400 at the start of 2018, according to the Marijuana Business Daily's analysis of Treasury data. The numbers could be misleading, however, because the data is based on reports of suspicion rather than certainty.
Because credit unions are not federally insured, they're the most likely to welcome wads of weed money, but the wait can be three months or more since the credit unions will only deal with so many marijuana-related businesses at once, Skaff said. In the meantime, businesses have to figure it out for themselves.
"People have cut corners because they've had to," Skaff said.
Skaff also helps marijuana-related businesses find ways to handle less cash day to day.
While he won't help marijuana-related businesses use credit card services, there are three low-risk ways to get around the traditional, cash-only model at a dispensary: debit cards, ATMs and gift cards, Skaff said. None of them require the backing of a bank.
"The fourth way is to do things under the table," Skaff said.
The Blüm dispensary already made headlines recently after settling a lawsuit with former owner Heidi Loeb Hegerich. The former dispensary partner alleged company partners were committing fraud and elder abuse.
Loeb Hegerich was promised $6.3 million after the settlement was reached in late spring with the current owners of the dispensary... er, food truck.
Jenny Kane covers arts and culture in Northern Nevada, as well as the dynamic relationship between the state and the growing Burning Man community. She also covers the state's burgeoning cannabis industry (Check out her podcast, the Potcast, on iTunes.) Support her work in Reno by subscribing to RGJ.com right here.


text:
The models strode the catwalk as models do, scampering down the runway in the season’s essentials — vintage T-shirts, yellow rain boots, a camo-print backpack — before a virtual audience.
That the models were furry and four-legged was the draw for the roughly 1 million viewers who tuned in for Petco’s 22-minute livestream on Facebook last spring. Sales were double what the company had forecast.
“It turned out that a pet fashion show was exactly what our consumers wanted from us,” said Jay Altschuler, vice president of media transformation for the pet chain. “We went in with very modest expectations and didn’t really believe it was going to be a huge driver — but it was.”
Livestreamed shopping events — part entertainment, part ad blitz — have become the latest frontier in online shopping. Retailers and brands as varied as Walmart, Amazon, Gucci and L’Oréal are experimenting with new streaming formats to sell a growing array of beauty products, clothing, electronics and home furnishings. The events take place on platforms like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, but they’re increasingly on retailers’ own websites.
Nordstrom recently created its own livestream channel, where the lineup of virtual events includes makeup lessons, wine tastings and dance classes. Amazon hosted more than 1,200 livestreams during its annual Prime Day sale in June. (Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post.)
Livestream shopping events generated an estimated $5.6 billion in sales last year, a market that retail analytics firm Coresight Research projects will balloon to $11 billion this year and nearly $26 billion by 2023. The format, which has been popular in China for more than five years, gained traction in the United States during the pandemic as retailers pursued homebound consumers on their phones and computers.
“It’s a version of the Home Shopping Network souped up for the modern age,” said Ken Fenyo, president of advisory and research at Coresight. “Livestreams marry video, interactivity and content — along with a little bit of the thrill of shopping in person.”
But some analysts are skeptical that livestreams will translate to long-term sales growth, given the endless streaming options Americans already have on social media and platforms like Netflix and Hulu. Home-shopping channels, they say, were born of an era when audiences were largely captive to their television sets. It’s no longer as simple to attract — or hold — the attention of today’s viewers, who can access entertainment on their smartphones, watches and computers at any time.
“A lot has changed since the days of QVC,” said Paula Rosenblum, managing partner at RSR Research, a retail technology consultancy in Miami, referring to the home-shopping channel. “You can have every brand out there putting up a livestream, but who’s going to watch it? I just don’t think it has legs.”
The livestreams are as varied as their audiences: There’s The Food Network’s Ree Drummond, who has sold her brand of “Pioneer Woman” cropped jeans, floral trash cans and nonstick griddles on a Walmart “shop-along.” Or the YouTube influencers promoting LG Electronics computers, TVs and refrigerators on Facebook Live and Instagram Live. Swarovski designers opened their studios, offering a peek into the creative process behind their intricate crystal figurines.
Abercrombie & Fitch kicked off its newest line, Social Tourist, with a livestreamed fashion show. The brand was designed in collaboration with influencers Dixie and Charli D’Amelio, sisters who have a combined TikTik following of more than 170 million on the short-form video-sharing platform, making it an obvious venue for the debut. Abercrombie and its offshoot, Hollister, worked closely with TikTok to create a 30-minute show, which aired last month.
“We pride ourselves on reaching our customer where they’re already spending a lot of their time, and for Gen Z, that is TikTok,” said Jacee Scoular, senior director of brand marketing for Hollister. “It was important to us that consumers could buy the product as they were seeing it on the runway.”
Nearly a third of Americans have tuned in to shopping livestreams, according to Coresight’s Fenyo, and close to half of them made a purchase.
Analysts say many livestreams entice fewer than 1% of the viewers to buy. The most successful of streams can capture sales from 10 to 20% of the audience. There also are wide disparities in consumer engagement. Analysts said events that offer entertainment and allow shoppers to buy products from the same screen as the livestream generally fare best, but retailers are racing to figure out other winning formulas.
“This really is the year of experimentation,” Fenyo said. “We see a lot of brands — certainly small ones, but also a growing number of large brands — really starting to invest in livestreams. They’re asking: ‘What kind of items should I feature? Who should I get to host it? A celebrity influencer? Or maybe one of my employees?’ It’s beginning to catch on.”
Hélène Desmettre and her husband host Amazon livestreams multiple times a day, sometimes for eight hours at a time. The 27-year-old model and social media influencer began sharing her beauty routine with viewers just as the coronavirus pandemic was taking hold in the United States. As the country retreated from socializing and in-person shopping, she said, she began to rely on her daily interactions with regulars to keep her from feeling isolated and alone.
“I used to be really polished when we started,” said Desmettre, who streams from her basement in northern New Jersey. “I didn’t dare to be funny or go outside of my bubble. But now it feels like I’m talking with friends.”
The e-commerce giant, which began dabbling in livestream shopping five years ago, has doubled down on Amazon Live in recent months. A new app lets brands and influencers create their own “shoppable” livestreams, allowing viewers to tune in, ask questions and purchase advertised items. The company declined to say how much revenue a typical livestream brings in, but noted that high-profile events, like the singer Dua Lipa’s recent livestream album launch, can easily attract more than 1 million viewers.
As a result, a cottage industry of influencers and celebrities has taken hold, streaming straight from their bedrooms and dining room tables in hopes of tapping into a small commission on each item they help sell.
Desmettre’s husband, David Kim, joined her after he lost his brand consulting job early in the pandemic. Thousands of people tune in each day to watch the couple share their opinions on any number of products, including air purifiers and computers. They earn commissions of about 1 to 4%, though they declined to share specifics, citing a nondisclosure agreement with Amazon.
The ultimate goal, they said, is to draw in shoppers and give them enough context to buy a product. The tactic generally works: Livestream shoppers are 50% less likely to return an item than other online shoppers, according to Coresight data.
Ashley Young recently spent $75 on two quartz stones she saw on a Facebook livestream hosted by Dusty Gem. The 36-year-old, who lives in Centennial, Colorado, does most of her shopping online on Amazon, Walmart and Etsy, but she said she was looking for a more intimate experience during the pandemic.
“The livestream was more personal than regular online shopping,” she said. “You can ask questions about the product. It let me know exactly what I would be getting.”


text:
Shortly after Ezra appeared on the red carpet for Justice League's Beijing premiere, his lips became the main attraction.
When asked about his glittery pink pout, the 25-year-old star proudly confirmed that he was, in fact, wearing Fenty Beauty lip gloss as the centerpiece of his look.
We did a little digging and it turns out the gloss he wore was Cosmic Gloss Lip Glitter Astro-Naughty ($19) — one of four new glosses in the Holiday 2017 Galaxy Collection.
The gender fluid actor has never been one to shy away from a bold lip, so it's a no-brainer that he couldn't resist rocking a flawless #FentyFace.
(Photo: VCG/VCG via Getty Images)
For the past 10 years, Yusef has been dictating all of the beauty trends we emulate via his most famous client, none other than Rihanna. He started out his career as a performer, but he ended up behind the scenes. In Hairstory, he details his rise in the industry from aspiring singer to creative directing the hair for Fenty x Puma.


text:
It’s a non seasonally adjusted number but student debt keeps on exploding higher. In January, consumer debt held by the federal government, which is basically all student loans, totaled $1.077T, up $27b from December and higher by $33b from November. Seasonally adjusting the non-revolving credit side saw outstanding debt increase by another $12.6b. Here is the visual and its relentless:
The revolving credit side which is mostly made up of credit card debt saw a decline in loans outstanding of 3.8b m/o/m to a total of $995.1, a 3 month low. This could be looked at in two different ways however. Are consumers paying debt with extra cash they have or are they reluctant to take on added debt via consumer spending because they are nervous about something. We’ve certainly seen a euphoric rise in the consumer confidence data but one thing we haven’t seen is any uptick in the buying intentions of big ticket items such as a home, a car or a major household appliance. As seen in the chart, revolving credit outstanding still has not reached the ’08 peak.


text:
We’ve reached a point in the hybrid and electric car market where we’re patiently, yet frustratingly, sitting around waiting for someone to produce a high-powered and long-capacity battery, all while being inexpensive and available for the standard market, rather than just the luxury vehicle segment.
Electric cars have advanced by leaps and bounds, with implausible technology becoming another aspect which we have come to expect from our green friends. Self-driving cars and cars that have the ability to charge our homes in case of emergencies are all great, but the practical issue isn’t going to disappear by throwing more gadgets at it. We just want to get from A to B on a single charge, without paying $100,000 plus.
MIT’s New Efficient Electric Car Battery
A group of scientists from the MIT named ‘SolidEnergy Systems Corp.’ have conjured up a concept battery pack that they say fits the quota for those of us looking for 400 miles of charge within the ideal and affordable $30,000 price tag. Using a method that was deemed ‘too dangerous’ back in the 70’s due to fire concerns.
Now, these concerns have been patched and fixed by the intelligence and hard work of this group of scientists whose battery cells showed volumetric energy densities as high as 1,337 Wh/L when a third-party MIT spinoff group called A123 systems conducted further tests.
The problems found back in the 70’s was that, while there were metal electrodes present, the electrodes would be unstable, thus being unsafe. Instead, SolidEnergy used a part solid, part liquid “biphasic electrolyte” which uses an ionic liquid and a polymer in the vicinity of the positive electrode and stability, leading to thermal runaway becoming a thing of the past.
How Does it Compare with the Industry?
Tesla Motors’ industry-leading battery pack works out at around $400 per kilowatt-hour, but with SolidEnergy’s new concept there’s a lot less going on inside. There isn’t a thermal liquid coolant, nor is there the usual metal hardware that would typically be necessary in controlling temperatures for low-volatility chemistry.
This means that production costs plummet, and could potentially lead to a battery pack at around $130 per kilowatt-hour – less than half the price of Tesla’s.
When Are We Likely to See It?
But as promising as this all sounds, this concept is yet to leave the lab. A lab concept, though essential, is only the start in creating something that can later be implemented into our dearly beloved electric cars. Fortunately, the project is in good hands. With a dedicated and highly capable team being carefully monitored by Donald Sadoway, a John F. Elliot Professor of Materials Chemistry at MIT. Sadoway was also named in the TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in the World list.
Sadoway and his team are keeping the champagne celebrations on hold as yet though. Without any official performance stats, a trust in Sadoway and his team is all we have to hold on to for now. He believes that the technology is in place, but needs the input of industry specialists who can take the concept from the lab, and take it further.
As promising as this is for the electric car world, it is still potentially years away from impacting the average person’s life. If a major car producer looked into similar technology or looked to maybe join in on a project like this one, wouldn’t we all be one step closer to an electric future?


text:
Amazon Prime made it easy to ship packages for little to no money, but now you can actually earn money by delivering some packages yourself.
The company today announced Amazon Flex, a service which pays $18-25 an hour for delivering packages using your car and smartphone. It was first rumored in August, but we now finally know what it’s all about.
It works similar to Uber. You can work for two, four or eight hours a day, or schedule work for up to 12 hours in advance. Though deliveries only cover Prime Now options (mostly groceries), Amazon says the service will cover more of its catalog soon.
Currently driving is the only delivery option, but Amazon says it will offer delivery via bike and foot in the future in places where it makes sense, like Manhattan. Other requirements include being at least 21 years old, passing a background check and owning an Android phone.
Flex is currently is only available in Seattle, but Amazon says it will soon expand to Manhattan, Baltimore, Miami, Dallas, Austin, Chicago, Indianapolis, Atlanta and Portland.
➤ Amazon Flex [Amazon]


text:
Since Galaxy S21 Ultra, Samsung is going with the same design on its Ultra series phones. The story will continue for Galaxy S24 Ultra, and probably S25 Ultra. Now for the S26 Ultra, looks like it is going to change from 2026. As per the new report, from 2026, Samsung is planning to change the core design of this series. It will provide a fresh and new look to these premium phones.
Apart from that, the news mentions low-budget and smaller Ultra models for the vast majority of users. The Ultra models come with a heavy price, and that keeps many users away from it. Of course, to reduce the price, Samsung may cut off some key features, but at this moment we are not sure.


text:
Last Wednesday, Sampson County’s master gardeners worked hard on a day of work in the park to prepare for their next fall plant sale.
The event is scheduled for Saturday, October 23, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Sampson County Cooperative Extension, located at 55 Agriculture Place, Clinton.
âThis time of year is a great time to plant, so we have a good variety of plants that we’ve prepared,â said master gardener Ann Butler. âWe’ve already set our prices and we’ll have everything full screen so people can see what the plants look like when people come. “
“There is even how to take care of them out there and so we are looking forward to hopefully a big crowd to come and have a really good deal on the fall plants,” she said. declared.
They certainly have a large selection, buyers can expect to find everything from Fig Trees (15/3 gallon pot), Aucuba (10/3 gallon pot), Gardenia Augusta, Cape Jasmine Gardenia, Golden Rain Tree ( each 12/3 gallon jar)), Blueberries (8/3 gallon jar) and Edgeworthia ($ 6 / $ 8 / $ 8 for 1/2/3 / gallon jars).
An assortment of azaleas from GG Gerbing, Hershey Red, and Pink Ruffles has prices ranging from $ 1-4-12 per plant, $ 5-9-10 per plant, and 10 and above are $ 9 per plant. These are just a few of those that will be available on sale.
âIf people want to do something in their garden, in terms of landscaping, this is a great time of year to plant plants,â Butler said. âThis will give the root system time to develop, which will help them have beautiful plants next spring. So I encourage anyone looking to make improvements or improvements to their home landscaping to come shop with us.
Butler also noted that the money from the sale of the plants benefits environmental improvement and education projects for youth, adults and the farming community.
âWe are also using our funds to purchase supplies to support our greenhouse, propagation areas and demonstration gardens,â she said. âWhile the Master Gardeners report to Cooperative Extension, we are a non-profit organization made up entirely of volunteers trained by North Carolina State University. “
A few fellow master gardeners from Butler were there this week to help prepare for the fall plant sale and echoed his thoughts.
âFall is just a great time to plant,â said Marcia Edgerton. âIt’s cooler, there’s more humidity and the gardens really have a head start for next year. People are often more interested in the spring and they do themselves a favor if they do some of the work in the fall. This way, they can enjoy the fruits of their labor in the spring.
âWe have a lot of blood, sweat and tears in our plants right now and they have a really good root system and we’re proud of them,â said Sue Williams. âNothing beats going out and digging in the dirt and we are ready to pass them on to anyone who wants them. “
Although the fall plant sale is only for this day, the plants can still be brought in after the event.
âPeople who can’t attend the Oct. 23 plant sale can still purchase plants by making an appointment,â Butler said. âA master gardener will help them select the appropriate plants for their landscaping needs. “
Butler also shared a little preview of some of their upcoming events after the fall plant sale.
âIn addition to the fall plant sale, in November we sell Christmas plants, especially premium poinsettias, Christmas cacti and amaryllis,â she said. âFinally, every April we have a spring plant sale where people can buy azaleas, aucubas, gardenias and many other landscaping plants.â
For more information on sales, scheduling an appointment, or becoming a Master Gardener, contact Cooperative Extension Services at 910-592-7161 and ask for a Master Gardener or Lynn Raynor.
Contact Michael B. Hardison at 910-592-8137, ext. 2588. Follow us on Twitter @SampsonInd and like us on Facebook.


text:
The announcement that Facebook will rebrand itself as Meta has sent prices for Metaverse, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and gaming tokens soaring in recent hours. The giant IT has reiterated its intention to rebrand itself as a “Metaverse company” – and has included “crypto” and “NFTs” in its communication about the rebrand.
Some Metaverse-related currencies are up 100% or more in the last 24 hours, with the fastest rise occurring in the hours after the tech title was declared. Starlink (STARL) is up 109 percent at 07:50 UTC, while Decentraland (MANA) is up 39 percent and Sandbox (SAND) is up 23 percent.
Coingecko stats indicate huge growth in the NFT/gaming industry, with the market-leading currency of Sky Mavis game Axie Infinity Shards (AXS) up 11% in the last 24 hours. Other game-related coins were also available for purchase.
Last week, the industry was informed of an upcoming name change, and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been talking about a Metaverse change for many months.
However, the term meta, as well as the rhetoric Zuckerberg and his colleagues are using to describe the company’s new path, has led the markets to expect a lot of money to flow into the Metaverse.
Zuckerberg pointed out in a “founder’s letter” that the new path “will require not only unique technical development – like community support for crypto and NFT initiatives – but also new types of governance.”
The company claimed it had explored what the “metaverse might feel like in the next decade” during its annual Connect event, looking at themes such as “social connections, entertainment, gaming, fitness, employment, education, and commerce”.
The company also promised to invest money in “new tools to help individuals build the Metaverse.” These include the Presence Platform, a mixed reality solution for Quest 2, and a “$150 million investment in immersive learning to teach the next generation of artists.”
Rather than emphasize its commitment to initiatives related to VR (virtual reality) and AR (augmented reality), the company has not overtly addressed the role that Stablecoin Project Diem and Novi Wallet – already in testing – might play in its fresh approach.
It described its “vision of the Metaverse” as the “successor to the mobile internet” and described it as “a collection of linked digital environments that allows you to do things you can not do in the real world.”
Meta pointed out that real-world products, such as the company’s “first full-fledged AR glasses,” are “still a few years away.”


text:
Development of enterprise mobile apps has been moving more slowly than development of consumer-facing apps, according to Gartner. One main reason is IT leaders' concerns about the security of mobile devices, which are often employees' personal device...
A majority of enterprises have migrated to Windows 7 or are planning to do so. But for Windows XP holdouts ready to side-step Windows 7 for the upcoming Windows 8 OS, you are risking a gap in support, stresses research firm Gartner in a new "first ta...
Tech stocks rose along with major indexes this week as central banks came up with a plan to ease market fears about European sovereign debt, and as key IT players including Microsoft, Intel, and Cisco held conferences for developers, users and analys...
Worldwide semiconductor sales have slowed in 2011, and the market is on pace for a small decline compared to last year, market research company Gartner said on Thursday.
Windows 8 will include a new feature that lets IT administrators provide workers with a portable Windows environment on a USB thumb drive.
Today's long-awaited look at Windows 8 has left analysts almost as perplexed as they were before Microsoft's top Windows executive walked onto a California stage.
Hardware and components insiders are giving off mixed signals about how business will fare for the rest of the year.
The future of Hewlett-Packard's PC business may be a bit cloudy, but that's not stopping the industry leader from forging ahead with new consumer products. The world's largest computer-maker has announced an upgrade and price drop to the very popular...
Gartner on Thursday sharply dropped its worldwide PC shipment growth forecast for this year and next, citing economic struggles and a market shift from PCs to devices like tablets.
The Apple Mac is steadily grabbing market share, but Windows-based systems continue to dominate the worldwide personal computer market, according to a new Gartner study.
Windows 7 will be on 42% of the world's computers by the end of this year, a Gartner analyst predicted today.
The two-week stock market rally in technology, among other sectors of the economy, came to a screeching halt Friday as the U.S. Bureau of Labor issued its monthly jobs survey.
Worldwide spending on electronic gaming products will total US$74 billion this year, and be driven in the coming years by fast growth in mobile and online games, Gartner said in research released on Tuesday.
Tech companies this week enjoyed an end-of-quarter market rally as concerns about the recovery abated somewhat and reports from market analysts indicated that IT spending would stay ahead of overall economic growth.
Gartner on Thursday upgraded its forecast for worldwide IT spending, saying it will grow 7.1 percent this year to US$3.7 trillion as companies migrate to the cloud and spend more on software and IT services.
Most Popular Reviews
- 1 Samsung Galaxy Tab S: hands-on with Samsung's 2014 flagship tablet
- 2 Fetch TV set-top box
- 3 Dell Inspiron 15 5547 laptop
- 4 Samsung NX30 camera
- 5 ASUS T100 Transformer Book hybrid
GGG Evaluation Team
First impression on unpacking the Q702 test unit was the solid feel and clean, minimalist styling.
For work use, Microsoft Word and Excel programs pre-installed on the device are adequate for preparing short documents.
The Fujitsu LifeBook UH574 allowed for great mobility without being obnoxiously heavy or clunky. Its twelve hours of battery life did not disappoint.
The screen was particularly good. It is bright and visible from most angles, however heat is an issue, particularly around the Windows button on the front, and on the back where the battery housing is located.
My first impression after unboxing the Q702 is that it is a nice looking unit. Styling is somewhat minimalist but very effective. The tablet part, once detached, has a nice weight, and no buttons or switches are located in awkward or intrusive positions.
Latest News Articles
- Harman Kardon CL headphones review
- Mitro makes password manager open source as team heads to Twitter
- Microsoft security tool EMET 5.0 puts a leash on plugins
- AMD A10-7800 (Kaveri) APU
Best Deals on GoodGearGuide
- Notebooks View all »
- $797.95 free shipping
- $399 free shipping
- 34% off $847
- Tablets View all »
- Mobile Phones View all »
- TVs View all »
- Digital Cameras View all »


text:
Wolverhampton-based pallet network Pallet-Track has said its new international service in partnership with Hellmann Worldwide Logistics UK will begin operating next Monday (13 April). The partnership, which the two firms announced a year ago, will deliver to 56 countries via a combination of road, sea and air. Pallet-Track founder and MD Nigel Parkes said the new service, which is beginning several months earlier than predicted at the time of the original announcement, and replaces a previous arrangement with freight forwarder […]
The United Pallet Network has revealed the identity of the first of its European service partners as Brownhills, West Mids-based Twente Express.
Pall-Ex is targeting Slovakia and the Czech Republic as its next European network, having also recently begun searching for a franchise partner in Bulgaria.
Parcel carrier CitySprint saw delivery volumes drop in London during the Games. The company, which handles B2B and consumer deliveries, made 75,000 deliveries to London postcodes during the Games. This was a 12% drop in volume compared with the 16 days proceeding the event (23 June to 7 July). Patrick Gallagher, chief executive of CitySprint, suggests the threat of traffic and congestion, as well as more people working from home during the period, likely reduced demand for couriers. However, the […]


text:
Successmore MyanmarMyanmar's successor
?????? ????????? SUCCESSMORE ??????????????. May DONH have more success in supporting the LGBT documentary". To view and share SOD (Successmore Myanmar) with a friend, click here. When this pilot is considered a success, then more of this kind of.
Founded in 2013 to offer a truly self-sufficient and long-term networking marketplace, Successmore Being Co Ltd. can achieve sustained commercial growth by delivering the chosen consumable products, superior performance and high global brands. The SUCCESSMORE is an enterprise information, messaging and content management tool developed by Successmore Being Co.
DLM-activeist on 66 (d) indictment will be tried
One man fighting multi-level advertising turned up in a Yangon courthouse after being charged with defamatory crimes via online post about Successmore's managers and brand. YE MYO THANT, who came to the Dawbon Municipality on June 6, is charged with violating paragraph 66(d) of the Telecommunications Act of 2013.
Last September, Successmore Being Yangon Trading Co Ltd. brought 66(d) charges against Ye Myo Thant after publishing information about his senior management and multi-level executive search and promotion efforts on his corporate website. Multilevel sales or multilevel networking has grown at a rapid pace in Myanmar in recent years and many of the businesses are operating in this area.
At Successmore, we use multi-level email and email to market cosmetic, medical and healthcare supplements from Thailand. She says the product is FDA accredited. Its multilevel sales are in the K4,000 to K80,000 area. You Myo Thant Ye said on June 13 that the campaign against multi-level marketers because he wants to save careless users from the loss of cash.
"but we' re sharing the real information, so I have to move on," he said. Successmor Manager Nang Kham Wah La said the 66(d) case was brought against Ye Myo Thant because his actions had done "great" harm to the company's corporate name.
It operated under the Myanmar Companies Law and the trade laws and regulation, she said Frontier on June 13. As Successmore says, it has 100,000 members in its community, with most in Yangon and Mandalay and some in Myitkyina and Taunggyi. Approximately 10,000 of these members are selling Successmore branded goods.
A Successmore member selling goods for the firm and talking to Frontier on an anonymous basis said the firm told the members not to betray clients, but it was possible that some were disingenuous. Frontier said on September 28, 2017 that multi-level advertising is contentious, but most businesses are legal.
Member companies usually make a living from the sale of consumables, but are also encourage others to buy the same product. "It can be a legitimately multi-level merchandising strategy if the amount of cash you make is dependent on your outreach.


text:
Consumers to spend $18.2 billion on Valentine’s Day
This is according to the annual survey by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics.
U.S. consumers are expected to spend an average $136.57, down from last year’s record-high $146.84.
Total spending is expected to reach $18.2 billion, down from $19.7 billion last year, which was also a record.
Starting at an average $119.67 for a total of $16.9 billion in 2007, Valentine’s spending grew most years over the past decade before hitting last year’s record.
But the number of people surveyed who plan to celebrate the holiday has dropped by nearly 10 percentage points over the same period from 63 percent in 2007 to 54 percent this year.
This year’s survey found consumers plan to spend an average $85.21 on their significant other/spouse, $26.59 on other family members such as children or parents, $6.56 on children’s classmates/teachers, $6.51 on friends, $4.27 on co-workers, and $4.44 on pets. ■


text:
Submitted by Jim Quinn – The Burning Platform
Two recent surveys, along with numerous other studies and data, reveal most American households to be living on the brink of catastrophe, but continuing to act in a reckless and delusionary manner. There have certainly been economic factors beyond the control of average Americans that have resulted in real median household incomes remaining stagnant for the last 36 years. The unholy alliance of mega-corporations, Wall Street and bought off corrupt politicians have gutted the nation of millions of good paying jobs under the guise of globalization, while utilizing debt, derivatives and financial schemes to enrich themselves. The malfeasance of the sociopathic privileged class does not discharge the personal responsibility of citizens for living within their means. A lack of discipline, inability to delay gratification, failure to understand basic mathematical concepts, materialistic envy, absence of critical thinking skills, and a delusionary view of the world have left the majority of Americans broke and in debt.
The data that captured my attention was how little the average American household has in savings. Roughly 62% of Americans have less than $1,000 in savings and 21% don’t even have a savings account, according to a new survey of more than 5,000 adults conducted this month by Google Consumer Survey for personal finance website GOBankingRates.com. This dreadful data is reinforced by a similar survey of 1,000 adults carried out earlier this year by personal finance site Bankrate.com, which also found that 62% of Americans have no emergency savings for a medical crisis, car repair, or unanticipated household expenditure.


text:
Boost claims it will make a splash this summer with the Kyocera Hydro, a waterproof Android smartphone for $129.99 without a contract.
The Kyocera Hydro is considered "oops proof" and can withstand sprayed water like rain and being submerged in three feet of fresh water for up to 30 minutes.
Features of the Kyocera Hydro include Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, there were any you and you and you and3.5-inch touchscreen, Wi-Fi, GPS, 3.2MP camera and eco mode battery management.
In the past, we've seen people using their smart phones around the pool while talking in the Jacuzzi and on the beach. Water damage is very expensive and there is water sensor inside phones that will void your warranty.
For every six on-time payments, the cost of Boost Mobile’s Monthly Unlimited plan shrinks by $5, eventually getting down to as low as $40 a month for unlimited nationwide talk, text and picture messaging, Web, email and calls to 411.


text:
Spotify will now allow artists to sell "VIP experiences" to fans.
The streaming service has teamed up with US startup BandPage to offer artists another means of making money through their service.
Artists will now be able to sell experiences through Spotify, such as entry to exclusive concerts and meet and greets.
Ariana Grande, Miranda Lambert and Porter Robinson will be some of the first musicians to make use of the new feature.
Grande is offering a pre-order of her forthcoming album and access to a stream of her concert, during which she'll perform the songs from it, for $9.98.
Meanwhile, fans can pay $39.99 to meet Robinson at his upcoming tour and get a mask prop from his video. Lambert is offering a T-shirt and beer cooler for $25.
"Offering direct-to-fan experiences represents a massive opportunity for musicians," BandPage chief executive J Sider told The Guardian.
He added: "At BandPage, we've seen bands increase their net revenue by as much as 25% by adding experiences like VIP backstage passes, online concerts, custom recordings and more. And fans absolutely love the opportunity to connect with their favourite artists in this way."
Spotify has previously been criticised by artists for not paying them enough, with Radiohead's Thom Yorke famously referring to the service as "the last desperate fart of a dying corpse".


text:
If Apple is serious about claiming a piece of the streaming pie with Apple TV+, it's going to have to make sure its customers can access it without having to fork out for a bunch of new gear. That's why, overnight, Apple made the platform available on a number of new Amazon Fire devices.
Customers can now access Apple TV+ through the 2nd generation Fire TV Cube and 3rd generation Fire TV, which will let them watch Apple's new shows, movies and documentaries, as well as access their iTunes library. Before the year is out the Apple TV app will also be available on the Nebula Soundbar - Fire TV edition, while the app and streaming service will arrive on JVC Fire TVs early next year.
Apple has done a pretty good job of getting its TV app out to the masses, considering how recently it launched. It's already available on select smart TVs and a number of dongles, such as the Fire TV Stick and Roku, and its standalone TV box has performed well, too. It's got a little way before it's as widely accessible as the likes of Netflix or Hulu, but if the company is serious about making a go of streaming -- which it certainly appears to be -- it won't be long before you'll be able to get it everywhere.


text:
Greggs has run out of sugar for drinks amid the growing supply chain crisis.
The bakery, famous for its sausage rolls and range of sweet treats, has also been hit by a shortage of large cups.
It apologised and told customers sugar was “temporarily unavailable”.
But one regular fumed on Twitter: “NO SUGAR??? Wtf get it sorted!” Another complained: “Sooo every @GreggsOfficial I’ve recently been to has no large cups and no sugar. The Greggs experience is getting ruined for me.”
Dozens more people said their local stores had been without sugar for several weeks and some shops put up signs to apologise.
One customer moaned: “Would love to be able to go into a store, have a coffee and be able to have sugar. It’s been a problem for weeks.”
While another said: “Greggs had no sugar this morning. A sign said, ‘Due to stocking issues’.”
A Greggs spokesman said sugar was “temporarily unavailable” and added: “We’re working hard to get this back in our shops as soon as possible.”
It comes after the company announced this week that its festive bake slice would be delayed in “true 2021 style”.
Earlier this year, the high-street favourite was having trouble providing chicken-based items, including sandwiches.
The latest problems follow months of staff and product shortages in hospitality and retail.
The supply chain crisis is being caused by factors including congestion at ports and a lack of lorry drivers, which led to the recent petrol shortages.
Source: Read Full Article


text:
Irvine-based storage products maker Western Digital Corp. is cutting nearly 100 more jobs in Orange County as the company begins to integrate its $17 billion buy of SanDisk Corp. that closed two weeks ago.
TECHNOLOGY: Computer science, law, engineering schools drive effort
University of California-Irvine is in the early stages of establishing a cybersecurity research institute that will become the first of its kind in the state with a national scope and profile.
Otherwise Laments State Of Overall Fuel Market
Count Clean Energy Fuels Corp. co-founder and corporate raider T. Boone Pickens among the throngs of company backers who thought a profitable quarter would come years ago.
ECONOMY: WD, Toshiba react to external, internal factors, trim staff
Orange County is home to a vibrant sector of companies that make and market consumer electronics, the largest among them accounting for more than 4,500 jobs, even with a recent rough patch for local employment at the top.
‘Center of Gravity’ Draws Wireless Products Maker
CalAmp Corp.’s recent headquarters move from Oxnard to Irvine provides a boost in the middle market for Orange County’s roster of publicly traded tech companies.
TECHNOLOGY: 39 Largest Combine For 8,000-Plus Jobs
The county’s largest software makers grew employment by 5.1% in the 12 months through April as several emerging companies joined the ranks of the largely mature local industry.
Liam Griffin, who served as president of Skyworks Solutions Inc. from the company’s Irvine office, has been named chief executive of the Woburn, Mass.-based chipmaker.
Broadcom Ltd. has agreed to sell its wireless infrastructure backhaul business for $80 million to MaxLinear Inc. in the latest divestiture led by Chief Executive Hock Tan.
Laguna Beach-based virtual reality content maker NextVR Inc. struck a deal with one of the world’s largest event companies to bring “hundreds” of live concerts to fans across the world through virtual reality.
Sells Broadband Unit To Carlsbad Firm for $21M
Aliso Viejo-based chipmaker Microsemi Corp. has begun unloading unwanted business units acquired in its $2.5 billion buy of PMC-Sierra Inc. in January.
Newport Beach-based Clean Energy Fuels Corp. after the close of trading reported revenue and adjusted profits in the first quarter that blew away Wall Street expectations.
Aliso Viejo-based 360fly Inc. has raised $40 million in a Series C financing round to boost global sales and marketing efforts for its breakthrough 360-degree 4K camera to be released later this month.
Laguna Beach-based virtual reality content maker NextVR Inc. has struck a deal with one of the world’s largest event companies to bring “hundreds” of live concerts to fans across the globe through virtual reality.
New Owner Didn’t See Value Of Growth Technology Sector
Broadcom Ltd.’s operation in Irvine is likely to shed more employees after the chipmaker sold its Internet of Things business last week for $550 million to Cypress Semiconductor Corp. in San Jose.
ECONOMY: New unit of SCE parent in search of permanent HQ
Orange County will play a prominent role as the home field of Edison Energy Group, recently established by one of the world’s largest electricity producers as a launch pad of sorts, with specializations in consulting, engineering and solar-energy installations.
’16 Forecast Lowered Due To Glitches, Other Factors
The bumpy rollout of virtual reality headsets has led to some lower sales projections this year as the emerging technology has failed to match the hype in the early going.
Irvine-based storage products maker Western Digital Corp. reported revenue and adjusted profits in the March quarter that missed Wall Street expectations amid continued sagging PC sales.
Broadcom Ltd. has sold its Internet of Things business and related assets for $550 million to Cypress Semiconductor Corp. in San Jose
Baseball’s oldest rule book fetched a record $3.2 million this weekend as part of the 2016 Spring Premier auction run by Laguna Niguel-based SCP Auctions.
TECHNOLOGY: $11M stock sale to Taiwanese firm promises Asia links
Orange-based startup grandPad Inc. has sold an equity stake to one of the largest PC makers in the world and signed a distribution deal with a nationwide provider of in-home senior healthcare potentially worth millions of dollars.
TECHNOLOGY: Minnesota-based brand’s USBs made in Santa Ana
Kingston Technology Inc., the world’s top seller of consumer USB drives, has moved to strengthen its position in the commercial market with its first technology buy.
Smart-Tech Provider To Hire 60 People This Year
The increasing adoption of connected-home devices and a $45 million venture funding round in January have prompted a hiring push at Irvine-based Greenwave Systems Inc.
TECHNOLOGY: Firm showed phone-breaking tool to top cops
A low-profile company that’s involved in some of the nation’s top forensic investigations is testing a robotic arm to unlock the most common mobile phones used in crimes.
Deal to Buy Cloud App Distributor to Add Revenue
Ingram Micro Inc.’s pending owner is making good on its word to invest in the Irvine-based company after its $6 billion sale.
To Trim 4K Jobs Across Co. to Vie With Airbus
More job cuts could be looming at Boeing Co.’s Seal Beach, Huntington Beach and Long Beach operations as the aerospace giant looks to trim thousands of positions across the country to improve its position against Airbus, a rival on commercial aircraft.
Rancho Santa Margarita data analytics software maker Compellon has raised $6.7 million in a Series A funding round.
Irvine-based Blizzard Entertainment Inc.’s annual fanfest is November 4 and 5 at the Anaheim Convention Center.
Company Might Move To New Digs in Irvine
Laguna Beach-based virtual reality content maker NextVR Inc. is scouting areas in Orange County to expand operations and accommodate its growing employment base.
A recently extended supply agreement with Apple Inc. indicates the new guard at Broadcom Ltd. will handle operations differently than the company it was named after.
University of California-Irvine will launch an e-sports program this fall with a new arena equipped with high-end gaming PCs, a staging area for League of Legends competitions, and a live webcasting studio at the Student Center.
Orange County’s lone daily fantasy sports operator doesn’t plan to follow the segment’s leaders in immediately closing contests involving college sports.
University of California-Irvine will launch an e-sports program this fall with a new arena equipped with high-end gaming PCs, a staging area for League of Legends competitions and a live webcasting studio at the Student Center.
Aliso Viejo-based Microsemi Corp. agreed to sell its embedded security, RF, microwave and custom microelectronics businesses for $300 million to Mercury Systems Inc., shedding about 275 employees in Camarillo; San Jose; Phoenix, Ariz.; and West Lafayette, Ind.
TECHNOLOGY: Fox deal, headset rollouts may spur adoption
NextVR Inc. is developing the TV Guide of virtual reality content as the sizzling nascent segment draws more viewers with the launch of several headset systems.
International Restructure, Integration on Horizon
Western Digital Corp. plans to restructure its international operation “shortly after” closing its highly leveraged $17 billion acquisition of SanDisk Corp. in Milpitas.
Aliso Viejo-based Microsemi Corp. has agreed to sell its embedded security, RF, microwave and custom microelectronics businesses for $300 million to Mercury Systems Inc.
Lake Forest-based Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide Inc. has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
TECHNOLOGY: Cable outfit aims for Internet of Things
The largest U.S. cable TV provider plans to invest nearly $40 million in Santa Ana-based remote control maker Universal Electronics Inc. over the next six years.
Chinese Boss to ‘Acquire’ More Business, Up Hires
Don’t expect Irvine-based Ingram Micro Inc. to cut costs under new Chinese owner Tianjin Tianhai Investment Co. Ltd.
TECHNOLOGY: OK of $17B buy expected after feds quash China deal
Western Digital Corp.’s blockbuster takeover of SanDisk Corp. has been marked by one big turn after another, reminiscent of the turbulent industry the two companies lead.
Boeing Co. introduced its latest unmanned underwater vehicle at its Huntington Beach facilities.
Software Agreement Could Help Reverse 2-Year Slide
Irvine-based Ubiquity Inc. has signed its first major licensing agreement to integrate its operating system software after years of development and patent approvals.
Boeing Co. introduced its latest unmanned, underwater vehicle this morning at its Huntington Beach facilities that holds vast applications in sea exploration, surveillance and analysis.
The Honda Center in Anaheim will host the 2017 P&G Gymnastics Championships and a meeting and trade show related to the event.
Entrepreneur Bounced Back from Setbacks to Create Again
A cancer diagnosis before he turned 21 changed Hayes Drumwright’s perspective on life and pushed him to take chances on business ventures.
TECHNOLOGY: NEFT seeks 30 million app users this year
A Newport Beach-based startup backed by former heads of Apple, Morgan Stanley and Nordstrom aims to bring transparency to the murky world of credit ratings.
TV Owner Says Data- Capture Disable Difficult
A class-action lawsuit in Indiana challenges a potential new revenue stream for Vizio Inc. as it weighs an initial public offering.
Newport Beach-based Clean Energy Fuels Corp. reported lower annual revenue and income and its stock declined in trading Friday.
TECHNOLOGY: Sale to Tianjin won’t impact day-to-day operations
It appears the $6 billion deal for Irvine-based Ingram Micro Inc. will not result in the type of layoffs and management changes that ushered in a new era for Broadcom Corp. after its blockbuster sale closed a month ago.
Free-to-Play Game Helps Offset Subscriber Losses
Analyzing Blizzard Entertainment Inc.’s performance is a bit trickier these days after the Irvine-based video game publisher stopped disclosing subscription figures for its World of Warcraft franchise, but other metrics point to a strong close to 2015 and positive indicators for the new year.
Prev NextPage of .


text:
If you’re a business based outside the U.S. and looking to expand into that market, you’ll need to incorporate your business in a particular U.S. state. Delaware is one of the most desirable U.S. locations for both foreign and domestic businesses to incorporate. This post provides some details about the state’s advantages, and explains why your business needs to consider incorporating in Delaware without assuming it’s the best option.
The Trump administration imposed a third round of tariffs on Chinese goods, covering roughly $200 billion of imports from China. China retaliated with $60 billion of tariffs. We tell you if this is likely to be a prolonged battle and what US companies need to consider now.
In a possible about turn, President Trump recently expressed interest in reopening TPP negotiations. We look at the possible consequences of the US joining the pact.
On a recent trip to Vietnam, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer announced that the US won't change its decision to pull out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Meanwhile, the remaining 11 TPP nations met to discuss the fate of the trade agreement.
After years of negotiation, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a massive new trade agreement, was signed in February this year by 12 nations. If it is ratified — a big “if” — it will bring important economic benefits to member nations, which include the US, Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Brunei, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, Chile and Peru — but not China. At first glance, it may seem surprising that the world’s second-largest economy isn’t participating. But if you take a deeper look at the pact and its requirements, the reasons become clear. They also shed light on China’s ambitions and the other initiatives it is pursuing to support them, even as the future of the TPP itself becomes increasingly cloudy.
Establishing and maintaining a foreign office can be an excellent idea, and for many businesses it’s a necessity in today’s global economy. But to make foreign operations successful, you need to develop a thorough plan that accounts for a host of considerations that may not apply to your domestic operations. Not surprisingly, many of these considerations relate to local laws. This post will outline of some of the legal matters you need to consider when setting up and maintaining overseas operations.